Black Insulation??

[sshockley (Stephen P. Shockley)]

I think I just answered my own question (thanks to Google images, gotta love it…). It was actually “Balsam Wool Insulation Batts”. According to the article it was popular in the 1940’s…

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/asbestos/BalsamWoolInsul013DJFs.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.inspectapedia.com/interiors/Balsam_Wool_Insulation.htm&usg=__3TSPTGowdS5Uoc_UD8W_2aZyHSw=&h=480&w=640&sz=68&hl=en&start=173&itbs=1&tbnid=w2yBNE73V-RaSM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dinsulation%2Bmaterials%26start%3D160%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1

I came across some insulation in a 1942 built home yesterday that had a black covering on it and was less than an inch thick. If anyone recognizes this, could you tell me more about it. It had R11 Owings Corning laid over top of it. When I pulled it up to get a closer look, it broke open a little and looks like it has some sort of insulating material inside of it. I wasn’t sure if it was some sort of sound dampening insulation or perhaps even might contain asbestos. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve